B’nai B’rith’s Bureau of International Affairs is shocked but not surprised

B’nai B’rith’s Bureau of International Affairs is shocked but not surprised by the revelations contained in Wednesday’s (10th July) excellent Panorama documentary. It provided a further horrifying glimpse into the institutional racism embedded within the Labour movement and left little doubt that the party was no longer a safe space for Jewish people.

The documentary revealed how Labour’s leadership had been actively impeding the disciplining of antisemites, using the testimony of former staff members within Labour’s Complaints and Disputes Department. All provided compelling and very moving accounts of how figures such as Seumas Milne and Jennie Formby had interfered in the disciplinary process, making their own jobs impossible to carry out. The Bureau commends their bravery and resilience.

We have long ceased to believe that Labour can fix this antisemitism problem with its current leadership. Instead, we await the outcome of the investigation launched by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and hope it will reach the correct conclusions.